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The biggest disadvantage of current guitar software suites that they don't give the opportunity for students to practice. Cutting-edge software products, like GuitarPro has a remarkable variety of features, but they sole purpose is to display the music, and not to make a student practice actively on an exercise. However, Earmaster does it the other way, it helps the student developing the 'ear for music', and it gives complex exercises in solfege, much like the OSIRE.

It is my professional opinion that in order to gain experties in guitar techniques, it is necessary to spend considerable time practising scales and scale variations. The OSIRE is capable to give a full, system-wide support in these subjects. However, it is necessary to familiarise with the
Pentatonic and the seven
Base scales first, which are published on this website. Then, we could focus on scale variations, which gives the backbone of the whole system, and is the most important topic. There are two different scale variations:

Mathematical variations: there is a simple formula, and all the possible combinations can be played along in a particular scale.

Musical variations: where there is no point of a mathematical approach, but there are some useful combinations of notes, which is important in techniques, or it simply sounds good.

Of course there will be some negligible amounts of overlaps, but these are not relevant in familiarising with the software.

The OSIRE is a complex exerciser software product for mathematical variations.
There are a large number of different variations in the scales (theoretically
725 = 1,341,068,619,663,964,900,807) which are more than enough for perfecting techniques.

The technical and musical methodologies are entirely supported in the Guitar School of Penzes, and will be available in English as well.
The OSIRE is therefore fully compatible and fully related with any of the chapters of the Guitar School of Penzes.

The OSIRE works on the Application layer, and has no direct hardware access. The OSIRE should run on an average computer with Windows OS, with a properly configured VGA and sound card. We are in the progress of making a linux version of the OSIRE.
The Software detects the language of the OS, and will switch to English automatically.

For the sake of simplicity, the methodology is presented for a
6-stringed guitar, but it can be easily converted to other instruments.

The same scale on the guitar can be played back in a number of ways, as there are overlapping notes due to the tuning of the screens. We have calculated in other chapters that the same D-major scale can be played back in 121 different ways, if we have a 22-fret guitar.

We don't need to be experts in music to say that there is only one optimal combination, and the rest of these are not.

The OSIRE is based on this concept: its default setting is the trichord, which means there are
3 notes assigned to 1 string, which we deduced is the optimal for guitar (for perfect fifth tuned instruments like violin, the optimal is the tetrachord, where there are four notes assigned to a string).

This is how a C-major scale looks like on a guitar:

There are a few other options in the software, which enables the user to change the system to:

Single chord, where 1 note is assigned to a string

Bichord, where 2 notes are assigned to a string

Tetrachord, where 4 notes are assigned to a string.

The single chord system is used in a technique called
arpeggio.
The OSIRE is not optimised for practising arpeggio, but it is possible to do it with a limited efficiency. The bichord system creates bizarre arrangements on base scales, like the same C-major scale changes to this in bichord:

However, bichord becomes very useful in the five-noted, C-pentatonic scale:

So, the student has to be familiar with the different scale systems, and in general, with the methodology of Penzes. The necessary documentation is available on the website, and we are in the process of making it available in English as well.

All in all, the OSIRE gives these four systems to visualise and practise the scales:

This option can be changed in any scale with any note, and is expandable to any instrument with any strings and frets.
However, it is necessary to expand the scales, as all the above covers all the 'music we like' ever created.

The next step is to practice different scale variations in a systematic way. We use a unique way to represent them in the software.

The most important, unique way used in the software is to assign numbers to each step in the scale, relative to the starting note. This numbering system always begins with a zero. In an E-pentatonic scale, the numbering system looks like this:

E – 0

G – 1

A – 2

B – 3

D – 4

In a seven-stepped say F-major scale, the numbering system changes into this:

F – 0

G – 1

A – 2

B – 3

C – 4

D – 5

Bb – 6

So therefore a scale variation is nothing else but a stream of numbers, which opens a lot of possibilities to practice.

The OSIRE, however, does not specify what techniques should be used in sounding the strings, it is intended for musical scales on different on different instruments only.

Take a look at the top right corner of the application window!
There are these two buttons:

These are very much like the back and forward buttons on an internet browser. Any changes we made, can be reverted or done again using these. So, if we have entered something wrong, or we think that the application went haywire, just revert using these buttons to a state that looks familiar.

There are two ways of entering notes in the application:
1. Using the cursor, click on the desired note on the fretboard,

2. Just simply type that note to the box named 'Note(s)'

There is no case difference in the input, so we could use either capitals or lower cases.

It is also possible to enter sharp and flat notes, however for the sake of simplicity there is only one notation for them, using the 'hashmark' (#) sign. As there is an overlap in sharp and flat notes, we made a small list to use in the software:

C sharp – D flat = C#

D sharp – E flat = D#

F sharp – G flat = F#

G sharp – A flat = G#

A sharp – Bb = A#

Using this simple notation system, it is possible to enter all
12 notes in the software, without the need of using special characters that would be hard to type in on a keyboard. However, we have named and noted the black keys on the keyboard: the enharmonic notes on the white keys can be entered with the corresponding parallel major note's name, for example: E sharp = F
Also we need to find a scale that we will be in, so click on the 'Search' button.

If the 'Only basenotes' tickbox is checked,

...then the OSIRE selects all the scales with that particular basenote. If the box is not checked, it will select all the scales that has that particular note in.

If we click on the scale, it will be displayed in the application. For example, we selected the F-major scale:

The Demo version of the OSIRE can only show this scale.

The OSIRE can also display certain
notes: If we type the desired note in the 'Note(s)' box, and then click
'Search'...

...and then we click on 'Own – C'...

...then the OSIRE shows all the C
notes available on the guitar:

Using the same method, we can search for triads as well. For example the C-major triad has the
C-E-G notes in, so we type 'ceg' in the 'Note(s)' box. If we click on 'Own –
CEG', we will see all the possible combinations of the same triad available on guitar:

Of course the software supports searching for
any chords available. For example, if we type an F(7/9) chord (F – A – C – E flat - G ). As we know that E flat = D sharp, therefore we type 'facd#g'in the 'Note(s)' box, to get:

As the text-based input method is very convenient to use, it is possible to copy and paste them like in a word processor. This is a very useful feature, as it makes entering long scale variations easier. (like this 16-noted triplet: 0120120120120120). There are more scale variations in the
Tips and Tricks section to try out.

What are scale variations? It's a formula that is being used throughout the scale. It's a kind of a script that 'tells' OSIRE how to play back a scale. If we type '0111' in the 'Variation' box, and...

...press 'Play' after setting the
'Tempo':

Alternatively, you can specify what scale system is being used, for F-major, it's best to select trichord.

Now, we see the particular we selected, and the OSIRE plays back all the possible variations along the fretboard, and returns to the original state. These are what I call 'Full Scales'. I teach these for years, as they are very important for the student to realise the 'connection' between the scales. There are certain advantages of these, such as:

They take a very long time, requires more concentration

The student will understand musical structures, and will have a better way to understand music

Using all of the above, the student will obtain a systematic, open-ended knowledge of the instrument, in which he/she could undertake further developments.

An interesting fact about the OSIRE is that it measures and displays time during the exercises. The triplet 0120 1201 2012 0120 in F-major takes about 12 minutes and 45 seconds at 80 BPM!

The animation being played back is
according to the mirror-method of Penzes, from the first note of the first
scale. In this case, it starts with F, as we are in F-major...

...to arrive an octave higher...

...in a special zig-zag shape, and it turns over at the end of scale. The student plays back all the scales with this method in one big exercise.

...and every scale is played back twice: upwards (↓), and downwards (↑). The arrows are entirely the opposite, as the lower strings on the guitar are located at the top.

We can see and hear that the OSIRE not just simply shows what happens in the scale, but also shows how our guitar should sound like. The current note is indicated by
red, and where the metronome clicks is in
blue.

Let's look at an example!

The variation '01'
is a nice mathematical variation.
This is how it looks like in an F-major scale:

The space between numbers controls the metronome, and this is how it's possible to make two different triplets instead of one hexlet. This enables the student to 'cascade' different variations, which multiplies the possible number of different variations.
As the OSIRE is capable of playing back a maximal sequence number of 25 (twenty-five-lets or penta-didecimal-lets), the possible combinations are

725 = 1,341,068,619,663,964,900,807.00.

We have calculated with possible spaces in as well.
This also means, that there are special cases, as there is no limitation in the scale variation. For example, the '06' is a very-hard-to play variation, as it's a scale, with an other scale an octave higher:

It sometimes may be necessary to practise a certain part of a scale, to solve some problems in technique, or just to familiarise with different tones. Not all the scales are of the same difficulty, and therefore those need more time being spent on them. A typical example would be any transitions between the G string and the B string. Selecting the necessary part is done like this:

Select the scale in 'Fixed' mode

While pressing and holding the Ctrl key, move the cursor to the black spot. A hand pointing left will appear, and select the highest note we want to be played.
By pressing and holding the Shift key, we can select the lowest note to be played, hence determining the part in the scale. A hand pointing to the right hand side will appear.

As mentioned before, the OSIRE assigns numbers to certain notes in the scale, relative to the base note.

First note: 0

Second note: 1

Third note: 2

Fourth note: 3

Fifth note: 4

Sixth note: 5

Seventh note: 6

Sometimes it may be necessary to assign an extra note to a scale variation, otherwise it would not be playable. For instance: the variation '0012 3456 7654' needs an extra note, and this is how it assigns it:

First note: 0

Second note: 1

Third note: 2

Fourth note: 3

Fifth note: 4

Sixth note: 5

Seventh note: 6

Eighth note: 7

We can adjust this option at Settings → General → Extra notes count

The maximum number is 7 + 3 = 10. Beware! By setting this number to
3, we have selected a scale variation with 10 different notes.

When playing a Full scale, the OSIRE merges scales with scale variations. On the boundary of two scales, we will find that there is an extra cycle, so the same notes are being played back twice during the exercise. This is true for the 'other end' of the scale a well, so we have two extra cycles.

There is a special rule for the OSIRE on how to handle these because it requires a certain order of fingers to solve this problem optimally. As focusing on this problem is not the main purpose of the OSIRE, I feel that this phenomenon needs a little explanation, even when it has been discussed in detail in an other chapter.

If we relate scale variations to scales, two things can happen:

Change in finger order during thecycle

Change in finger order between cycles

Number 2. is the optimal, as it is not possible to change the finger order during a cycle at high speeds. Also, an other way to solve this problem is to use single stringed scales.
So, we have to handle these extra cycles somehow, and unfortunately it is a very complicated problem.

The OSIRE plays the extra cycle if the 'diameter', the difference of the numbers in the variation formula is smaller or equal to the number of steps.

The OSIRE does not insert the extra cycle if the difference of the numbers in the variation formula is larger than the number of steps.

Let's see this in an example!

Consider the variation '0123'. The diameter (the highest value in the formula) of it is 4. As we use the trichord system, it is not possible to play the full variation on a single string:

We could insert the extra cycle at the turning point, but that would just cause more problems. This is the reason that the OSIRE skips the extra cycle during playback. However, if we switch to the tetrachord system, this problem disappears, and the extra cycle is included:

An other example:
The variation '012' has the diamater of 3.

It is possible to play this variation in
trichord system as well, so we get the extra cycles.
This is just the abstract solution to the problem, I will put on some videos for registered customers.

If we get into the depths of scale variations, it might be necessary to increase the difficulty of variations. Therefore, we implemented a little function, which creates little breaks during the cycle.

This creates an asymmetric variation both in rhythm and sound. More information on this feature is in the
chapter Tips and Tricks.

The fact that the OSIRE can play any variation of a scale is its biggest advantage. The even numbered mathematical variations are formulas that has even digits in, like:

1 – 0

3 – 000

5 – 00000

7 – 0000000

9 – 000000000

11 – 00000000000

13 – 0000000000000

etc.

The variation '0' is already familiar: it's not even a variation, it's just a sign that the OSIRE will play the scales
forth and back. The '000' is a triplet, so we have to squeeze 3 notes between each metronome clicks. The 'pentlet' – '00000' is the same. The 'heptlet' – '0000000' is a thing that other software suites can cope with, but anything higher than that is a thing they almost certainly cannot do.

I have to say that whoever can play these odd-numbered variations, are real hardcore guitarists!

...we can switch on animations, and see the base scales separately as part of the full scale exercise. The speed of this animation is adjusted by the placement of the slider, it is switched off at the left hand side.

GuitarThe drop-down box in this section allows the student to change the type of the guitar:
bass, regular or custom, etc. The option for bare strings are here as well, like a harp. Also, we could change the
tuning of the instrument, creating some new (and weird) scales. This
section controls all the other instruments depending on what was selected at
the main window. The fret number tells how many notes are accessible from
one string. This option – where applicable – can be changed between 7 and
32.

MetronomeBefore we start the exercise, it is useful to have some beats beforehand to 'pick up the rhythm. How many beats are necessary, is adjusted here.

GuitarHow loud should be the guitar? What should it sound like? These are specified here.

MetronomeIt is possible to select certain MIDI instruments which will be played back as metronome. The tone and pitch and volume are adjustable. We can check the settings by pressing 'Test'.

The Plays an octave higher
option

For instruments that use low frequencies (bass), we might have difficulties hearing what is being played on due to limitations in speakers. Low-grade desktop and laptop speakers are prone to this. In order to take care of this problem, we have built in the option to transpose notes an octave higher.

Saving the settings

By exiting OSIRE, all custom data are saved, and will be recalled during the next start.

As students will use this product, we were aware that they will make mistakes. If such a thing happens, it could be very frustrating to start everything all over again. Therefore, by pressing
Space, it is possible to pause and resume the exercise. Also by using the arrow keys (←, →), it is possible to step between scale steps to get to the point where the things fell out of control.
Also, when resuming the exercise, the metronome will begin with leading beats to aid accuracy.

On a single scale, the arrows can control the slider as well.

Using the up (↑) and down (↓) arrows, it is possible to change the speed of the metronome.

As the formula of a scale variation can have 25 numbers, means that we can have
725 = 1,341,068,619,663,964,900,807.00 possible variations. This a terribly high number, and it is simply not possible to check the validity of finger orders for each of them. Also, it is not possible to implement it in computer programming. This is the reason that the OSIRE does not tell the student how to position his/her fingers, and the students are on their own finding the optimal solution. Those students who attended lessons at the Guitar School of Penzes are in an easier situation, as they have the knowledge to deduce the optimal finger order in different variations.

To help my customers, I am in the process of publishing different
general finger positions to get them going.

Again, the OSIRE's main purpose is not related to the finger positioning problem at all.

The user interface of the demo version is identical to the full version.

(The OSIRE 1v's user interface with a six-stringed guitar (fretboard in horizontal))

The OSIRE 1v's user interface with a Cello (fingerboard in vertical)

However, there are certain limitations in features, and only capable of doing the following:

Displaying the F-major full scale

Showing the technical scale structure

Animation and base scale selection

Scale variations are limited to 1 base and 3 other variations

Tempo control in BPM

Play and Pause

Repeat

Adjusting all the settings

Warning! Those of you who are absolute beginners and are not familiar with the methodology of Penzes might not be able to benefit from all the advantages of the software. For them, the free demo version is available to download after registration, and I suggest to read all the chapters of my website.

As the OSIRE is capable of supplying the student with enormous amount of exercises, this might give the impression that the course materials are too big to take, and there is no systematic way whatsoever to get started alone.
By design, the OSIRE was not meant for standalone learning, it is my purpose
to teach the student, and this software is helpful in aiding work and investigate problems.
It is not possible to create the same course materials for everybody, and achieve results effortlessly. As I stated many times earlier, no website is a substitute for a teacher. However, I populated some information here to show a learning curve looks like in general.

Step 1

Get familiar with course materials online, including scales, techniques!

Step 2a

There are videos and different other materials available for enrolled students, which gives a detailed understanding on finger positioning problems, and how to solve them.

Step 2b

If the student does not wish to be
enrolled, then take the
pentatonic
scales very-very slowly...

...by adjusting the slider...

...and use 0 for scale variation, at a low, 40-50 BPM.

Don't forget:
learn the basics first, increase speed later on!

Step 3

Get the 7
base scales known, but not all at once,
but slowly, one-by-one. Practice these scale elements one by one, without a
metronome first. Then, try it with metronome...

...by adjusting the slider...

...and use 0 for scale variation, at a low, 40-50 BPM.

Step 4

When the student feels 'it's on track', trying simple scale variations would be sensible.

It's enough to practice variations on the base scale only, it will work on pentatonic scales as well.

Don't change order in the variations!

00 - double

01 - shifted double

000 - triple

011 - shifted triple 1

001 - shifted triple 2

0000 - quattro

0100 and 1011 - shifted quattro 1 and inverse

0110 and 1001 - shifted quattro 2 and inverse

0010 and 1101 - shifted quattro 3 and inverse

0001 - shifted quattro 4

0111 - shifted quattro 5

0101 - shifted quattro 6

012 - stepping triplet

010 - A-triplet

101 - V-triplet

010000 and 101111 - double triplet 1 and inverse

001000 and 110111 - double triplet 2 and inverse

001001 - double triplet 2a

011011 - double triplet 2b

000100 and 111011 - double triplet 3 and inverse

000010 and 111101 - double triplet 4 and inverse

000001 - double triplet 5

011111 - double triplet 6

010010 and 101101 - double triplet 7 and inverse

011110 and 100001 - double triplet 8 and inverse

010101 - double triplet 9

If we have done everything for the seven base scales, we get 7 x 26 = 182 different exercises. If we count the pentatonic scales in, we get 5 x 26 = 130 additional exercises. So we get 312 exercises in total, which is not bad at all to start with!

Step 5

As the scales on the guitar can be transposed, try experimenting with it. How does the prhygian scale sound like at the 14th fret?

Step 6

This step as more theory than exercise, and is an abstract of an other chapter. We have to understand how a scale changes when it turns over and why.
These problems are not created by me, but the problem of different finger orders have put them into consideration. These problems will appear in solos, classical pieces later on. So it's best to take care of these before problem escalates and puts a limitation of a potential musician's career.

When a new student is just being introduced to scale variations, the problem of variation turnover does not appear, as all the variations begin and end with the same note. The triplet '000' remains the same:

↓ 000 → ↑ 000

When a variation is asymmetrical, the variation gets inverted upon a turnover:

↓ 01 → ↑ 10

Most of my students didn't even notice this problem, and carried on. However, this 'instinct' like behaviour does not give a solution for more complicated problems. Say the triplet '011' is a typical example. The student suddenly stops and asks me how to do it. Can't decide between
2 solutions in the same natural manner how he/she did earlier.

↓ 011 → ↑ 110

↓ 011 → ↑ 100

And they are all perfecly right whatever solution they choose, as all the solutions are adequate. But which one is right? Case 1. is some kind of a rotation around the middle digit. The best solution is the second one, as when a scale turns over, we 'invert the bits'. So,
if we have to do an asymmetric scale variation with a turnover, we always need to invert all the bits.
Here's an other example of this problem:

↓ 011111 → ↑ 111110

↓ 011111 → ↑ 100000

Solution 1. is the mirroring approach, and the second one is the inverting is the right answer.

The OSIRE has this inverting feature built in according to the variation formula:

If the first note of the variation is
identical to the last note, then the variation is returning (e.g.
011110,where 0 = 0), and there is no need for inversion.

If the first note of the variation is lower than the last note, then the software has to invert the variation, These are called ascending variations, and beginners can handle them (e.g.
011111, where 0 < 1). There are no problems with finger orders.

If the first note of the variation is higher than the last one
(e.g. 111110, where 1 > 0), the variation is descending, and cannot be played with beginner finger orders.

The only reason that this information is here to ease the selection of beginner variations.
I am in the process of making the documentation available in English for my customers on this matter.

It is sensible to ask the question on why do we not have to invert the variations all the time, and why does the difference in the inversion matter? Well, the OSIRE now can take care of this problem, but only since the newest versions. I had many students who inverted the shifted quattro 1 variation (0100 → 1011). I tried to explain the problem, but they didn't understand me. That is why I had to introduce the returning scale variations, where it is not necessary to invert the formula.
Since then, I haven't had a single student who had problems with it.

Step 7

Using more scale variations, I have selected a few to determine how they should be handled in a scale turnover. The beginner variations are
black, and the ones that requires more advanced finger orders are marked in
red.

0000 – 1111

0001 – 1110

0010 – 1101

0011 – 1100

0100 – 1011

0101 – 1010

0110 – 1001

0111 – 1000

Step 8

Using all the above, it is possible to practise all the variations for beginners, and the tempo can be increased without (human) limits.
All the 26 variations published in Step 4 don't require special finger orders, so take time on them!

In order to react to a few inquiries, I'd like to emphasize the fact that the whole purpose of this school is to allow music to be played on an instrument. However, I deduced from my experience that the way to learn the music is not through the music. So if we'd like to learn Enter Sandman from Metallica, we don't practice Enter Sandman from Metallica at first. The methodology we (and now I can say WE) created has certain steps in, and these steps became automated with the introduction of the OSIRE. However,
it's just a tool for achieving the goals.

To talk in symbols, the methodology of Pénzes will never say what statue should you make, but it tells you how to use the hammer and the file. Everything else is up to you, the Artist. All we can do, all we will do is to give you the best quality tools we've got.

The hotfix update service is provided to those who have purchased the product. This means that if there is a fault in the program, we make the same but patched version available free of charge to the customer. For news on the updates, please take a look at the News section of this website.